Improvement in harness



UNTTED `STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMERY HAR-DY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARNESS.

Specification formingpart of Leiters Patent No. L17,919, (lated May JO, 1865.

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. E. HARDY, of the city, county, and State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness for Horses; and I do hereby declare that the following is a clear, full, and eX- act description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of ref` crence marked thereon, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the back-strap, saddle, and fixtures of a harness in the line of a; x, Fig. 2, Fig. 2, atransverse vertical section of the same in the line of z c, Fig. l, and Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are detailed views of portions of the same detached.

The nature of my inventionconsists in a light metallic body or frame for the saddle, constructed in a novel manner, for the purpose of combining` strength, durability, lightness, and a neat finish.

It further consists in attaching the backstrap that supports the thills so as to permit it to play freely back and forth therein; and, further, in the manner'of securing the terrets, check-hooks, Sac., thereto.

To enable others skilled in the arts to construct and use my invent-ion, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a metallic strap or frame, which may be made of cast-iron or other suitable material, and formed longitudinally in such a shape as to adapt it to the configuration of the animal. This piece A constitutes the main portion or frame-work of the back piece or saddle. At its central part this piece' A is made wider than elsewhere, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, where it is represented cut across through its center.

B and B represent blocks of wood fitted upon A in such a manner as to come flush with the lower face thereof, while their outer edges extend out in a line even with the widest portion of A, as shown in Fig. 2. These blocks B and B are of such a `width and so placed as to leavebetweena longitudinal groove or chan nel for the strap C to playin, as shown in Fig. 2. The object of these blocks is to fill the saddle out, so as to give it the required form, furnish means for securely and readily attaching the pad and trimmings, and form a channel for the strap C. v

y D represents a metallic piece, made in the form of a riding-saddle, as usual, and having Athe projecting lug or bolt a cast thereon, as

shown in Fig. 2. In order to give it aiinished appearance and form and not render it too heavy, its rear portion may be made hollow or convex and filled with a wooden block, d, as shown in Fig. 2.

E is a metallic piece madein theform shown in Fig. 3, with the elongated opening at its rear portion for attaching the strap extending back and connecting the back-strap to the breeching and crupper. This pieceE is made of such a length as to correspond with the width of the saddle and permit the loop at its rear end to protrude, as shown in Fig. 2, while the arms y are curved to fit the upper surface y of the blocks B and B', upon which it rests,

and to which, as well as to the frame A, it is securely attached by the bolts Z and n., which which extends across the blocks B and B, and i is iirmly attached thereto in such amanner as to bring its upper surface flush therewith. If desired, the nut o and piece p may be made so as to constitute a single solid piece. A wide strap, @,is secured to the upper surface of blocks B and B by means of F, and through this strap c, at c', is cut an oblong tranverse hole large enough to permit the narrower strap Cto pass readily through it, as shown in Fig. l.

To the strap c is secured the metallic piece e, the form of which is clearly shown in Fig. 5. This piece e is slotted longitudinally, and is so attached to c as to cause its upper end to pro ject up past the lower end of A, as shown in Fig. l, the upper end resting in the channel between the blocks B and B. The strap C (which is the one that supports the thills ofthe vehicle) is placed in the channel between the blocks, as shown in Fi g.2, and, passing through the opening c in strap c, has a small bolt or shown in Fig. 7.

screw, h, secured to it by means of the nutf,

-which has anges on its sides or edges prohave a movement across the horse7 s back equal to the length of the slot in e, while it is prevented from inovinglaterally, the piece c being held in place by the strap c, to which it is riveted or otherwise securely fastened, and which strap is held in place by being buckled tightly around the horse in the usual manner.y The metallic plate e thus forms a guide for the movements of strap C, and at the same time protects the strap c from being eut and worn by the screw h, as it otherwise would be. The strap br extends over and covers the whole, forming a finish thereto.

A checkbook, a., is secured tothe front of the frame or saddle by having one end lplaced between D and E, where it is firmly held by the bolt Z, which is screwed from the under side into the body of nut m, which is made square to fit in a hole of similar shape` in D and a, the boltl not passing entirely through m, the upper surface of which is left solid and smooth, as shown in Fig.. 2.

Fig. 6 represents a cheek-hook of the ordinary pattern, so constructed as to adapt it to be used in place of the hook a, if desired. The shank or stem w of hookG is made square, and ofproper size to lit in place of the nut m, the stemw having ahole bored in its lower end,with a screw-thread cut therein, the same asin nut m, for the` reception of bolt Z. When the hook G is used, the plate E may be dispensed with and the simpler one, t, substituted. If desired, D may also be dispensed with, aproperfinish being given to the saddle by a suitable covering of leather or other material.

construction andarrangement of partsI am enabled to produce a strong, light, and neat article'having no nuts, bolts, or screw-heads By this projecting from the under surface to bruise or otherwise injure the animal. It is also fitted to the animals back, so that but little padding or cushioning is needed, thereby rendering the saddle far less liable to injure the animal by heating, scalding. or blistering its back, as'is often the case with those formerly in use. Another and very important advantage gained is, that the thills, which are held up by the strap G, 'which plays freely in the channel, are permitted to adapt themselves to the inclination of the ground overv which the vehicle may be passing, and which cannot be done with the back-strap as ordinarily arranged in harness.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1f The plate A, constructed in the form and manner shown, and connected to the other parts, as herein set forth.

2. In ,combination with plate A, the blocks B and B', when so arranged as to form the channel for the strap C, and otherwise constructed as described.

3. The crupper-plate E, when constructed and fastened in place, as shown and described.

4. rllhe slotted plate e, screw h, and nut j', or their equivalents, when constructed and arrangedv to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The method of securing the ferret F, as shown, whereby an open space or channel is left underneath it for the strap C.

6, The self-adjusting back-strap C, when arranged to operate in connection with the other parts, as herein shown.

7. In combination with the strap C, the slotted platee, clamp f and t', and screw h, constructed and operating substantially as (lescribed.

EMERY ILHARDY.

Witnesses:

ANDREW VAN DER ZEE, WM. A. WHITBECK. 

